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After ingestion, the eggs develop into embryos within the intestines and then travel to the liver and lungs through major blood vessels. The embryos then begin to form cysts within the liver and lungs, causing damage as they enlarge over a period of five to 20 years. Cysts may become over 8 in (20.3 cm) or more in size and contain a huge amount of highly allergenic fluid. Studies show that while the liver is most often targeted, lungs, brain, heart, and bone can also be affected.
The major symptoms are due to compression damage, blockage of vessels and ducts (such as the bile ducts), and leakage of fluid from cysts. The following symptoms are frequent.
- Liver involvement causes pain and eventually jaundice or cholangitis due to blockage of bile ducts. Infection of cysts leads to abscesses in up to 20%.
- Lung cysts cause cough and chest pain.
- Bone cysts cause fractures and damage to bone tissue.
- Heart involvement leads to irregularities of heart beat and inflammation of the covering of the heart (pericardium).
- Allergic reactions occur from leakage of cyst fluid that contains antigens. Itching, fever, and rashes are frequent, and fatal allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) have been reported. Eosinophils, which are blood cells involved in allergic reactions, are increased in many patients.
— David Kaminstein, MD
